Manuel Pietsch, KIT
E-waste is a growing problem, so if an
electronic component can't be reused or recycled, it should at least be biodegradable. That's where an experimental new electronic display comes in, as it
can be composted when no longer needed.
Created by scientists at Germany's
Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), the device is a type of electrochromic display. It utilizes an organic polymer known as PEDOT:PSS, in
which the amount of light absorption changes as voltage is applied – as a
result, individual segments of the display change between almost-clear and opaque
states.
That polymer is deposited on a cellulose
di-acetate substrate and sealed in an electrolyte gelatine, making the display
both flexible and adhesive. The electrical current is applied via gold
electrodes. And like other electrochromic displays, this one can be
inexpensively produced using an inkjet printer.
The printing process could reportedly be
easily scaled up for commercial production, yet it also allows for the
production of small runs of specialized displays in custom shapes or sizes.
According to the researchers, the
technology will likely find use in short-lifecycle applications. These could
include disposable skin-worn sensors that monitor patients' conditions, or food
packaging that indicates if the food has spoiled.
"As far as we know, this is the
first demonstration of a biodegradable display produced by inkjet
printing," says Gerardo Hernandez-Sosa, head of the Printed Electronics
Group at KIT's Light Technology Institute. "It will pave the way to
sustainable innovations for other electronic components and to the production
of eco-friendlier electronics."
The display is described in a paper that
was recently published in the Journal
of Materials Chemistry.
Ben Coxworth
January 22, 2021
Source: Karlsruhe Institute of Technology
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